Daniel 7

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote…” Naming Babylon and Belshazzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up…” The line’s distinctive content terms include wings, beheld, eagle’s. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the…” Naming Ancient keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beheld, beast, body. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beasts, concerning, dominion. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.” Naming Daniel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, brake, brass. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that…” The number ten makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;” The line’s distinctive content terms include beheld, horn, prevailed. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the…” Naming Ancient and High keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in…” Naming Daniel and Hitherto keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.